Requirements for communication, wind energy towers to be approved next week

BROWN COUNTY:

February 17, 2009|By Scott Waltman

Guidelines governing regulations for cell phone towers and wind turbines and facilities will likely be approved by the Brown County Commission next week. The commission approved first reading of the guidelines Tuesday. Gary Vetter, county planning and zoning director, said the regulations cover things like setbacks, the approval process and, in the case of wind turbines, decommissioning when use of the towers is finished. Companies that what to erect communications towers must demonstrate that they will be high enough to accommodate their purposes. There are also fencing and lighting requirements. For wind turbine towers, there are provisions to protect topsoil and cattle along with lighting and other safety requirements. Vetter said many of the guidelines were taken from those in place in other parts of the state. With more wind turbines going up in the region, it makes sense to have a way to govern their construction, he said. A complete copy of the proposed requirements is available at the planning and zoning office.